Costs Paralegal/Lawyer

The firm

Birketts is a full service, UK Top 50 law firm. With a heritage spanning 160 years, we have more than 700 lawyers and legal professionals based in Bristol, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Ipswich, London, Norwich and Sevenoaks. We advise businesses, government and public sector organisations and individuals in the UK and internationally across four principal practice groups: Real Estate, Corporate Services, Dispute Resolution and Private Client.

We are defined by our Next Level Law proposition. We work with our clients as a proactive partner, horizon scanning and thinking ahead to the changes, challenges or opportunities that they may face.

With our ambition to succeed, comes a strong desire to make a positive contribution to the communities we serve, and we are committed to delivering the objectives set out in our ESG strategy. Diversity plays an integral part in all that we do, with female partners comprising 40% of our partnership.

The department

Our client base is diverse and ranges from individuals to multinational corporations, via legal professionals across the civil litigation sector, with a particular emphasis in the insurance, shipping, commercial litigation, property litigation, construction and social housing sectors.Our experience extends to both English Court proceedings and arbitrations, in particular LMAA and LCIA.

Purpose of job

Due to growth within the department, our expert team of qualified Costs Lawyers seek to recruit two Paralegals to assist with the smooth running of low level work flows, increasing with experience to complexity.

Based in Norwich to have the full support of the Senior Associate and Associate to offer development and support.

Day to day responsibilities will include:

• Assessing opponent’s costs, advising client on settlement parameter, and negotiating with opponents primarily in housing disrepair claims
• Drafting Statements of Costs for Court hearings
• Working to deadlines
• Maintaining accurate time-costing procedures
• Ensuring compliance with file management
• General team administration
• Supporting the wider Costs Team

The candidate

The ideal candidate will possess a law degree, or working towards Costs Draftsman status, but this is not essential.

• Experience of a working in a law firm or professional office environment
• Excellent attention to detail together with analytical and organisational skills.
• Committed team player who can adapt well to new challenges.
• Ability to use own initiative and show sound judgement
• Strong IT Skills - familiar with Microsoft Office applications and document management process and systems.

Equal opportunities

At Birketts, our culture is driven by ambition and a commitment to positively impact all the communities we serve. We are dedicated to the success, development, and wellbeing of our colleagues, helping them achieve their goals and seize the opportunities that come with our growth. Alongside a flexible and inclusive work environment, we offer the following core benefits:

• 25 days holiday (FTE) plus Bank Holidays
• Long Service holiday award - 1 extra week every 10 years continuous service
• Private Healthcare with BUPA (offered after probation is passed)
• Scottish Widows Pension Scheme (5% employer / 5% Employee)
• Staff Profit Share and Individual Performance Bonus Scheme
• Salary sacrifice (Pensions, Staff Profit Share)
• Life Assurance - 4 x salary / Permanent Health Insurance
• Paid CSR Day
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Leave
• Subsidised gym membership
• Electric car scheme
• Agile/Hybrid Working Policy
• Dress for your Day Policy

https://www.birketts.co.uk/recognition-reward-benefits/

Birketts is a flexible business which has embraced a hybrid working model where our colleagues enjoy a mix of home and office working. We welcome applications from people looking for flexible, agile, and part-time roles and we are happy to explore your preferred working patterns as part of your application.

Please note that this job profile is not an exhaustive list of duties but merely an outline of the key components of the role. You may be required by your line manager to take on additional responsibilities when requested.

Birketts is committed to being an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our policy is unequivocal: we do not tolerate discrimination based on age, disability, sex, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, or sexual orientation.

We pride ourselves on being an inclusive organisation that actively promotes equality of opportunity for all, valuing the right mix of talent, skills, and potential. We welcome applications from a diverse range of candidates, and selection for roles is based solely on individual merit.